West Cheshire loses out again on New Year Honours

Jan 6 2011 by David Holmes, Chester Chronicle

CHESTER MP Stephen Mosley is encouraging people to nominate unsung heroes for an award after a dearth of recipients from West Cheshire in the Queen’s New Year Honours list.

Just three people from the area received ‘gongs’ but in all cases for services to neighbouring communities in North Wales, Wirral and Merseyside.

Mr Mosley said: “You get people on the list who have put in many years of public service for the council, the fire authority or the police authority. I have no problem with people getting awards for that kind of thing.

“But people who do fantastic work for residents’ associations and community groups, I think, should be awarded as well.

“There is a big push for the big society and there is an opportunity to tie the awards in with people getting involved in the big society.”

Mr Mosley meets community stalwarts all the time but believes they do not get nominated because people don’t understand the system.

“People who do unpaid voluntary work do it for the good of the community but receiving an honour from the Queen can be the recognition they deserve.”

As a Deputy Lieutenant of Cheshire, David Pickering is a representative of the Queen in the county and agrees local people are underrepresented in the honours.

He said statistics showed that while Cheshire represents 11% of the North West population, it only receives 8% of the honours.

“Statistically we are behind the game. With the Queen’s award for voluntary service we don’t receive as many as a proportion of the population.”

He added: “Quite a few people live in Cheshire but then get awards for their work in Liverpool or Manchester.”

For details on how to nominate someone visit: www.honours.gov.uk.